William Rutherford Mead (AC 1867) and Olga Kilyeni Mead Papers, 1840-2001 (bulk 1846-1950)
General International Standard for Archival Description
Amherst College Archives and Special Collections
Finding aid encoded using Perl scripts and edited in XMetal 2.0. Encoded by Sarang Gopalakrishnan. 2003-06-24
Encoded Archival Description
Encoded Archival Description (EAD) Version 2002
collection
Mead Papers
Creation of Mead Papers
Time of Creation of Mead Papers
2 archives boxes, 2 flat archives boxes, 1 records storage box, 1 wrapped volume
Mead, William Rutherford, 1846-1928
Biographical History for: Mead Papers
Biographical Note William Rutherford Mead was born in Brattleboro, Vermont in 1846. Mead graduated from Amherst College in 1867, after which he studied architecture in Boston and in Europe under Russell Sturgis, Jr. Mead started an architectural partnership with Charles F. McKim in New York City in 1872. In 1879, they were joined by Charles F. McKim to form McKim, Mead, and White, of which he was principal until his death in 1928. The firm designed many of the most notable structures in the country, including the Agricultural and New York State buildings at the World's Columbian Exposition at Chicago in 1893, the Boston Public Library, Rhode Island State Capitol, the old Madison Square Garden (since demolished), and the Columbia University library. In 1883, Mead wed Olga Kilyeni in Budapest, Hungary. In 1902, King Victor Emmanuel conferred upon Mead the decoration of Knight Commander of the Crown of Italy in recognition of his pioneer work in introducing the Roman and Italian Renaissance architectural style in America. Also in 1902, Amherst College conferred upon Mead the honorary degree of LL.D. In 1909, he recieved a degree of M.S. from Norwich University in Vermont. Mr. and Mrs. Mead lived abroad in Rome, where Mr. Mead was the President of the American Academy in Rome until his death in 1928. When Mrs. Mead died in 1936 in New York City, her entire estate was bequeathed to Amherst College. Much of that bequest was used to fund construction of the Mead Art Building, designed by James Kellum Smith of McKim, Mead and White and completed in 1949.
Scope and Contents of the Collection Personal, professional, and family correspondence, financial records, articles and printed matter, photographs, music scores and general memorabilia documenting the personal and professional lives of William Rutherford Mead as an architect with McKim, Mead and White, and of his wife Olga Kilyeni Mead. The collection includes papers related to Mead's architectural designs for "Redtop," the house in Belmont, Massachusetts, which Mead designed for his sister Elinor Mead Howells and her husband William Dean Howells, 1876-1878; papers relating to the Meads' relationship with Amherst College, including information about their bequest for the construction of the Mead Art Museum. Photographs include portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Mead, family photographs, photographs of William and Elinor Mead Howells, and various travel images and unidentified family photographs. Also included in the collection are several dozen music scores, chiefly 19th century, by Hungarian, German and French composers.
Architects--United States--Biography--Sources.
lcsh
Mead, William Rutherford, 1846-1928.
lcnaf
Mead, Olga Kilyeni.
Howells, Elinor Mead, 1837-1910.
Howells, William Dean, 1837-1920--Homes and haunts.
Howells, William Dean, 1837-1920.
Amherst College--Students.
McKim, Mead & White.
Redtop (Belmont, Mass.)
Mead Art Building.
Amherst College. Class of 1867. Mead.
aat
series
Series A: William Rutherford Mead
Series A, William Rutherford Mead, 1840-2001, includes family and personal correspondence, certificates and other official documents, biographical and genealogical information and other materials documenting Mr. Mead's personal life and professional career as an architect with McKim, Mead and White. Papers in this series document, in particular, Mead's relationship with Amherst College and the design and construction of "Redtop," the house in Belmont, Mass. which Mead designed for his sister Elinor Mead Howells and her husband William Dean Howells, 1876-1878.
General File (1 of 2) 1872-1949
General File: (2 of 2) - accessions records 1981
Personal documents - wills, marriage licenses, etc. 1883,1908,1920
Official documents - obituaries, bequests, honors, memorials 1928-1937
Amherst College - general 1906,1917,2001
Amherst College - correspondence 1903-1924
Amherst College - bronze bust controversy 1931
Amherst College - Mead Art Building 1948,1949
Outgoing correspondence 1871-1922
Incoming correspondence, alphabetical by correspondent 1904,1922
Family - general and genealogical 1958
Family - great-grandmother's diary (see note in folder) 1840-42
Family - Charles Levi Mead (brother) 1899
Family - Larkin Mead (brother): general 1862,1911,1931
Family - Larkin Mead (brother): letters to family 1855-56
"Redtop"- home designed by WRM for William Dean Howells and Elinor Mead Howells (sister of WRM), Belmont, Mass. 1978,1980
"Redtop" - George Myers, contractor 1878
"Redtop" - miscellany, construction materials 1877, 1878
"Redtop" - letters from Elinor Mead Howells to WRM 1876-77
"Redtop" - letters from Elinor Mead Howells to WRM 1878
"Redtop" - letter, W.D. Howells to W.B. Bigelow 1878 Feb 25
McKim, Mead, White - general 1884-1950
McKim, Mead, White - clippings, etc. 1951-98
McKim, Mead, White - publications 1895,1907,1909
McKim, Mead, White - misc. posters, drawings, etc. 1910
Series B: Olga Kilyeni Mead
Series B, Olga Kilyeni Mead, includes incoming and outgoing correspondence, financial records, biographical information and general memorabilia.
General file 1904,1936
Publications, miscellaneous, collected by Mrs. Mead: "Journal of the Louis Kossuth Fair," New York (1894 Feb 10); "Vasarnapi Ujsag," Budapest (19877 and 1909); "Hungary, Xmas 1908," Budapest (1908) 1894-1909
Social memorabilia 1895, 1904
Calling cards, "at-home" announcements mostly n.d.
Invitations mostly n.d.
Travel memorabilia 1896,1915
Financial records. . .[bills, inventory, etc.] 1904-34
Financial records. . . [statements et al] 1930-34
Financial records. correspondence arr. chronologically 1925-33
Correspondence - Outgoing: Beekman, Frederick W. 1920 Dec
Correspondence - Incoming, A-G [Correspondents: American Academy in Rome, 1928-32; Coue, E., 1926; Coue, L., 1926-1933; Gerster, Louis, 1915-16] 1928 Jun 22
Correspondence - Incoming: Howells, William D. 1903-1906
Correspondence - Incoming: J-W [Correspondents: Jayne, Addie, 1933 Feb 10; Kilyeni family (recipes in Hungarian, plus notes in English); Mead, "Bob" (nephew?); 1931 Feb 10; Miliares, Annie (in French), n.d.; Munch, Madeleine (Condolences for W. Mead in French), 1928 Aug 23; Place, Iphigenia, 1902 Nov 8; Shepard, August D., 1932 Jul 13] 1928-1933
Series C: Photographs
Series C, Photographs, ca. 1860-1920, include portraits of both William Rutherford and Olga Kilyeni Mead as well as photos of the William and Elinor Mead Howells family. This series also includes several folders of unidentified family photos and a scrapbook of travel images, ca. 1910.
William Rutherford Mead as a young man n.d.
William Rutherford Mead (mid-life) n.d.
William Rutherford Mead (later life) n.d.
William Rutherford Mead with others n.d.
Mead family/related families n.d.
Howells family (WDH, Elinor Mead Howells, children) n.d.
Olga Kilyeni Mead as a young girl and young woman n.d.
Olga Kilyeni Mead, mid-life n.d.
Olga Kilyeni Mead, later life, includes two tintypes n.d.
Olga Kilyeni Mead with sister and mother n.d.
Olga Kilyeni Mead in unidentified groups n.d.
William Rutherford and Olga Kilyeni Mead in groups n.d.
Interiors (possibly homes of William Rutherford and Olga Kilyeni Mead) n.d.
William Rutherford Mead, Olga Kilyeni Mead - poor quality photos n.d.
Unidentified children n.d.
Daguerreotypes and print by Bachrach: "Leonard Moses" n.d.
Unidentified women n.d.
Unidentified men n.d.
Unidentified groups and couples n.d.
Unidentified daguerreotypes (two) n.d.
Men and women in costume (possibly native Hungarian) n.d.
Unidentified scenes, buildings, etc. (U.S., abroad) n.d.
Misc. art photos n.d.
Scrapbook of steamship and interiors (ca. 1910?) is shelved as "Item 23" in Series C, immediately following Box 3. ca. 1910
Series D: Sheet Music
Series D, Sheet Music, is a collection of 19th century scores by chiefly Hungarian, German and French composers. The scores were included within the papers of Mr. and Mrs. Mead. The series is arranged alphabetically by the (often presumed) name of the composer. The inventory for this series was prepared without any working knowledge of Hungarian and without scrupulous notations of foreign diacritics and punctuation; it is, therefore, only a rough approximation of the chief information about each score.
Abrányi: name appears in two forms: Abrányi, C. and Abrányi, Kornél n.d.
Abrányi, Kornél. Blahane . . .[24 songs?] Budapest: Taborszky es Parsch. 29 p. n.d.
Abrányi, Kornél. 6 pieces bearing the following title, but differing in detail such as color of covers, ink colors, etc. All published in Budapest: Taborszky es Parsch. Elegans Csardasok (csardas noble) 9p. n.d.
Abrányi, C. Marche de Rakoczy, Budapest: Taborzky es Parsch. 5 p. n.d.
Abrányi, C. Potpourris sur des motifs d'operas hongrois. Budapest: Taborzky es Parsch, 23 p. n.d.
Allaga, Geza. Sir a kis Iany a Balaton partjan... Budapest: Rozsavolgyi es Tarsa. 3 p. n.d.
Bach, Johann Sebastian. Klavikerwerke. . . versche;n von Carl Reinecke. NYS: G. Schirmer, 15 p. n.d.
Banfi, Sandor. Turi Borsca. . . {7 songs?] Budapest: Rozsavolgyi es Tarsa. 11 p. Two copies, one with a pink cover, one with a pale tan cover. n.d.
Berkes, Lajos Athleta Csardas. Budapest: Taborszky es Parsch. 5 p. n.d.
Bohm, Carl. Calm as the night. NY: G. Schirmer, 5 p. n.d.
Boott, F. The wind exultant, words by Winifred Howells. Boston: Oliver Ditson & Co., 4 p. only (incomplete). n.d.
Bucalossi, E. La Gitana waltzes. Chicago: National Music Co., 10 p. n.d.
Chopin, Frederick. Works, instructive edition. . . by Dr. Theodore Kullak. . . NY: G. Schirmer, 23 p. n.d.
Concone, J. Fifty lessons for the medium part of the voice, op. 9, vol. 242. NY: G. Schirmer, 1892. 87 p. n.d.
Concone, J. Thirty daily exercises for the medium part of the voice, op.11, vol. 294. NY: G. Schirmer, 1894. 27 p. n.d.
Czerny, Carl. Erste Wiener-Lehrmeister in Pianofortenspiel. . . Erste Vorubungen zur Kenntnis der Noten. Wien: Carl Haslinger qm.Tobias. 3 pieces, numbered 1, 2, and 3 with pages numbered respectively, 1-8, 9-16, 17-32. Also, cover only, numbered 4. n.d.
Czerny, Charles. Schule der gelaufigkeit. Edition Peters no. 2406a. Leipzig, C.F. Peters. 23 p. n.d.
Czerny, Ch. Thirty nouvelles etudes de mecanisme pour piano. . . . 6 pieces, numbered 1-6, 10p.. Place of Hambourg (nos. 1, 3), Vienne (nos. 2, 4-6) n.d.
De Koven, Reginald. Vocal gems from The Knickerbockers. . . NY: G. Schirmer, 1892. 61 p. n.d.
Ellenbogen Adolf. Fehervaron szep az elet. Budapest: Taborszky es Parsch, 7 p. n.d.
Erkel, Elek. Adpiros Bugyellaris. Budapest: Taborszky es Parsch. 18 p. n.d.
Erkel, Elek. Saraga Cxiko. Budapest: Taborszky es Parsch. 13 p. n.d.
Feleki, Hugo. UJRA! Budapest: Taborszky es Parsch. 6 p. n.d.
Funke, J. Ecoutez-moi, romance sans paroles pour piano. NY: G. Schirmer, 3 p. n.d.
Garat, __. Dans le printemps de mes annees. In Echos, Paris: A. Durand & fils. 3 p. 2 copies. n.d.
Herz, Henri. Collection d'exercices de gammes et de passages..., Edition Peters, no. 290. Leipzig: C.F. Peters. 43 p. n.d.
Hofmann, Joseph. World's Kinder Tanz. "Written for the New York World", (folded sheet) n.d.
Huber, Sandor. Azert csillag hogy ragyogjon... Budapest: Rozsavolgyi es Tarsa. p. n.d.
Huber, Sandor. Avilagon a legarvabb en vagyok... Budapest: Rozsavolgyi es Tarsa. 3 p. n.d.
Kearne, Lindsay. Ever since we parted, a serenade. London: Conrad Herzog & Co.,7 p. n.d.
Komlody, Gyula. Soh'se halunk meg. Budapest: Jtaborszky es Parsch. 5 p. n.d.
Konti, Jozsef. Operette 3. Felvonasban... Budapest: Kiralyfogas negyes. Appears to be first 3 selections listed on front. 17 p. n.d.
Konti, Jozsef. Operette 3. Felvonasvan... Budapest: Kiralyfogas negyes. Appears to be selections 4-6, listed on front. 15 p. n.d.
Lassen, E. When thy blue eyes. NY: Edward Schuberth & Co., 7 p. n.d.
Loeschhorn, A. Zejm Kinderstucke zu vier Handen... Edition Peters, mno. 2136. Leipzig: C.F. Peters. 23 p. n.d.
Mendelssohn's four-part songs...English and German words. English version by J.C.D. Parker. Boston: Oliver Ditson, 1856. 143 p. Signed "Wendell P. Garrison", preceding the title page. 1856
Paderewski, J.J. Humoresques de concert... NY: G. Schirmer. 7 p. n.d.
Panseron, A. ABC musical dedié aux meres des famille ou solfege avec accompgt de piano. Bruxelles: Nacher, 127 p. n.d.
Pouvet, Aug. Masac. Yo quiero un besito, habanera. Mexico, 24 p. n.d.
Rácz (one copy: "Ratz"), Pál. Five pieces, all published in Budapest. Titles(?) follow: Bolcsesz Csardas. p..3-5.; Jogasz-Csardas. p. 2-5; Kesergo. p. 2, p. 5; Rudolf Csardas. p. 3-5; Stefania Csardas, p. 3-5, inside title page printed in color. n.d.
Reilly, Robert B. Exceedingly. NY: C.E. Reilly, 5 p. n.d.
Strauss, Johann. Der Zigeunerbaron., I. Potpourri. Hamburg: Verlag von Aug. Cranz. 15 p. n.d.
Strauss, Johann. Der Zigeunerbaron, II. Potpourri. Hamburg: Verlag von Aug. Cranz. 15 p. n.d.
Strelezki, Anton. Dreams. . . New York: G. Schirmer.3 p.. n.d.
Strelezki, A. Happy days song. . . words by Henly Thomson. NY: Edward Schuberth & Co. [9 p., not numbered] n.d.
Tisza, Aladar. Blahane...Kedvelt nepdalok. Budapest: Rozsavolgyi es Tarsa. 12 p. n.d.
Tisza, Aladar. Danses hongroises: Scorpio czardas. Budapest: Taborszky es Parsch. 7 p. n.d.
Vaccai, Niccolo. Practical Italian vocal method, revised edition. Schirmer's Library of Musical Classics, vols. 240-241. NY: G. Schirmer. 40 p. n.d.
Wagner, Richard. Richard Wagner Album fur gesang mit pianofortebegleitung.... Berlin and Dresden: Adolph Furstner. 93 p. n.d.
Wagner, Richard. Thematischer Leitfaden durch die Musik zu Richard Wagner's Tristan und Isolde von Hans von Wolzogen. Leipzig: Feodor Reinboth, 47 p. n.d.
Unidentified fragments of sheet music n.d.